Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is the most common non-alcohol related substance use disorder (SUD) in the United States and is especially prevalent among returning veterans. The long-term mental health correlates of CUD remain unknown, which is significant given the rise in legalization and also recreational and medicinal cannabis use nationally. In the first long-term and longitudinal evaluation of mental health and alcohol use course among returning veterans, CUD was associated with worse and more persistent alcohol use and PTSD symptom severity over time. These data have implications for clinical assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment of veterans and may inform efforts to offset risk for hazardous drinking and PTSD following a diagnosis of CUD.
Read the full study published in APA PsycNet here: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2021-71424-001